"Either way, we're already in danger," Serena said as Asher suddenly stopped and looked at her.
"What?" Serena asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I'm sorry," Asher said quietly.
"Why?" she asked, frowning.
Asher shook his head. "I got you involved. I should have spared him and—"
Before he could finish, Serena placed her finger on his lips, silencing him.
"Don't," she said firmly. "You killed him and spared his future victims. It's not your fault, but theirs—those so-called gods who claim to rule yet ignore the pleas of those who serve them."
Asher nodded, though a part of him still wanted to say more. In his mind, gods were nothing more than beings who had reached the limits of this world yet refused to leave. Instead of ascending to a greater realm, they stayed behind—playing rulers, dictating fate.
In a way, they were just cowards with superiority complexes—unwilling to move on, content with controlling this world rather than stepping into something greater.
Asher and Serena moved swiftly through the dense forest, staying off the main roads to avoid unwanted attention. The cool morning air was crisp, and the scent of damp earth filled their surroundings. Birds chirped in the distance, unaware of the deadly game unfolding in the shadows.
Serena adjusted the strap of her satchel and glanced at Asher. "How far is the next god's domain?"
"About 500 kilometers west," Asher replied, his eyes scanning the path ahead. "If we keep a steady pace, we can reach a neutral settlement within a few days. From there, we'll need to find a way across the border."
Serena frowned. "That's a long way. Do you think Blood Cross will come after us before we get there?"
"They will," Asher said without hesitation. "But that's fine."
Serena sighed. "I swear, sometimes it feels like you want to fight them."
Asher smirked. "I don't mind thinning their numbers a little."
Serena rolled her eyes but didn't argue. They both knew that fighting was inevitable.
Meanwhile, in a dark chamber beneath the capital city of Malfus' domain, a gathering of Blood Cross members knelt before a massive altar. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and dried blood.
At the center of the altar stood a robed figure, their face hidden behind a ceremonial mask carved with grotesque symbols.
"Lloyd has fallen," the masked figure intoned, their voice echoing through the chamber. "Slain by an outsider… a heretic who rejects Malfus' gifts."
Murmurs of outrage spread among the gathered cultists. Some clenched their fists, others whispered prayers for vengeance.
"The heretic must be punished."
A tall, muscular figure stepped forward, his presence radiating murderous intent. His skin was pale, his veins blackened by the corruption of Fiendish Energy.
"I will hunt him down," the man growled. "I, Gideon of the Crimson Blades, will offer his soul to Malfus."
The masked leader nodded approvingly. "Then go, my child. Spill his blood in the name of our god."
Gideon grinned, revealing sharp, unnatural teeth.
Back in the forest, Asher suddenly stopped walking. Serena, noticing his tense posture, immediately put a hand on her daggers.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Asher's eyes narrowed. "We're being watched."
Serena's heart pounded. "Blood Cross?"
A faint rustling came from the trees, and Asher turned his head slightly, his fingers tightening around his scythe. He couldn't see them yet, but his instincts were screaming—something dangerous was nearby.
A slow, eerie chuckle echoed through the trees.
"So… you're the one who killed Lloyd."
A figure stepped into view, his crimson cloak billowing as he walked. His pale skin and blackened veins marked him as something beyond human.
Serena felt a chill crawl up her spine. "Who… is that?"
The man smiled, his sharp teeth glinting in the morning light.
"The name's Gideon," he said. "And I'm here to send you to hell."
Asher exhaled sharply, his grip on his weapon unwavering.
"Big talk," he muttered. "Let's see if you can back it up."
With that, the battle began.
The moment Asher's grip tightened on his scythe, a surge of raw energy exploded from his body. The ground cracked beneath him as his mana, tainted with the stolen power of his Plunder ability, roared to life. His eyes glowed crimson, and the air around him shimmered with killing intent.
Gideon's grin widened. "Oh? Not bad."
Then, in an instant, Asher vanished.
A shockwave ripped through the forest as Asher reappeared right in front of Gideon, swinging his scythe in a vicious arc. The blade, pulsing with dark energy, slashed toward Gideon's throat.
Gideon barely managed to block with his massive, curved sword, the impact sending him skidding backward. His feet dug into the ground, leaving deep trenches in the dirt.
"Hah… So this is what killed Lloyd?" Gideon sneered, licking his lips. "I can see why the higher-ups want your head."
Asher didn't waste time with words. He shot forward again, his movements blurring as he rained down a flurry of devastating strikes. His scythe danced through the air, slicing through trees and leaving deep gashes in the earth.
Gideon countered with monstrous strength, his sword clashing against Asher's weapon with earth-shaking force. With every impact, sparks flew, and the pressure of their battle sent shockwaves through the surroundings.
Serena, staying a few steps back, clenched her daggers tightly. She knew she couldn't interfere directly—this fight was beyond her level. But she had to be ready to assist if things went south.
Gideon's body pulsed with Fiendish Energy, dark tendrils creeping along his skin. His strikes became heavier, his speed increasing with each exchange. He was pushing Asher back.
"You feel it, don't you?" Gideon chuckled, his sword humming with cursed energy. "That little Lloyd… it's nothing compared to what I am!"
A violent pulse erupted from Gideon as his veins turned completely black. His power skyrocketed.
"Blood Rend: Crimson Baptism!"
A torrent of dark crimson energy burst from Gideon's body, warping the very air. The trees around them instantly decayed, their leaves turning to ash. The blood-soaked aura wrapped around his blade, making it look like a massive fang ready to devour Asher whole.
Asher gritted his teeth. He's this strong?
There was no doubt—if the fight continued, even he would be in trouble.
But Asher wasn't planning on dying today.
He gripped his scythe tighter and released his limiter.
A dark storm of energy exploded from Asher, swallowing the entire battlefield. His mana, plundered abilities, and fiend-like aura merged into one overwhelming force. The sheer pressure shattered the trees around them, leaving only burning debris.
Gideon's grin faltered for the first time.
"Phantom Reaper: Abyssal Execution."
Asher's voice was quiet—but the power behind it was anything but.
His scythe vanished, becoming nothing but a shadowy blur. A hundred slashes tore through the air, each one carrying the weight of death itself.
Gideon barely had time to react before the first cut appeared on his chest. Then the second. Then the third.
By the time he realized what was happening, Asher had already disappeared—only to reappear right behind him.
Blood sprayed into the air as a deep wound carved across Gideon's back.
He staggered, growling in pain. "You… damn…!"
"Asher!" Serena shouted.
Asher exhaled sharply, suppressing the throbbing pain in his body. That attack had drained more energy than he expected. He couldn't keep this up.
"We're leaving," he said, grabbing Serena's wrist.
Serena bit her lip but nodded. They both turned and bolted into the dense forest, their bodies flickering like shadows as they weaved through the trees at high speed.
Gideon roared behind them. "You think you can run!?"
He lunged forward, his injuries already closing as his Fiendish Energy healed him. But the moment he tried to chase—
A massive explosion erupted between them.
Serena looked back, eyes widening as she saw a burning field of magical traps—ones Asher had planted earlier.
"You planned this…?" she breathed.
Asher smirked. "Always have a backup plan."
Gideon snarled in frustration as the flames and collapsing trees blocked his path. He could break through—but by the time he did, Asher and Serena would be long gone.
"You think this is over!?" Gideon roared after them. "The Blood Cross will never stop hunting you!"
Asher didn't bother responding. He just kept running.
Because he already knew that.
The forest blurred past them as Asher and Serena sprinted through the dense foliage, their bodies flickering in and out of sight with rapid movement techniques. Every step they took was calculated—dodging branches, leaping over roots, and ensuring their escape remained unpredictable.
Serena panted as she kept up with Asher's pace. "Where are we even going?"
Asher didn't slow down. "We need to get out of this domain before they track us down again. If Gideon recovers fully, he'll be back with reinforcements."
Serena cursed under her breath. "This is insane. Just how far do these cultists reach?" This chapter is updated by Novel~Fire. (n)et
"The Blood Cross isn't just a cult," Asher said darkly. "They're a network—hidden in the underbelly of society. If someone like Lloyd was considered a saint to them, then you can imagine how many monsters they have waiting in the shadows."
Serena clenched her fists. "And they want you dead because you killed him…"
Asher nodded. "Lloyd was their 'chosen one.' Now that he's gone, they're going to be desperate to kill me—probably to recover his 'blessing' or whatever twisted nonsense they believe in."